Pages

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Poking Around in the Attic

I have taken some time away from writing to search through my attic, hoping to find another story or two. I strolled at twilight along a deserted urban street in the northwest corner of my mind. As I approached the middle of the block, a skinny little man, unkempt and ragged, stepped from the alley and accosted me. “Pssst,” he hissed, “you like some dirty pictures, some filthy stories?”

“Not interested,” I said. “Here,” I handed him a dollar bill, “go buy yourself some soap. And get your mind out of the gutter while you are at it. Scram.”

The café on the next corner was still open. I stepped inside, took a stool at the counter. A buxom woman well past life’s midpoint ambled along behind the counter, slopped a glass of water and a setup in front of me. “Whadda ya want?” she asked. I noted her mustard-colored, not to mention mustard-stained dress, her name tag on her left breast, “Maizie.”

Looking into her clear, pale blue eyes, I replied, “I want stories; or even one story. But you look a little weary. Guess I’d settle for a cuppa joe and that last slice of apple pie there.”

“Mister, you don’t know from stories. Look at me. No, really. Look at me. I am fifty-nine years old last week, and here I am after eight o’clock on Tuesday night sloppin’ coffee ‘n slingin’ hash. You think I don’t know from stories? Well, sir, you ain’t lived long, then.”

“Do tell.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I ain’t into no funny business, Mister. I work hard, I go home. That’s it. You want stories, you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.”

I was disappointed because I really thought she might have a tale to tell. I took the last bite of pie, swallowed the last swig of java. I swung off the stool, laid a ten spot on the counter and said, “The change is yours, Maizie. Have a nice night.” As I tripped the panic bar to open the door, Maizie spoke to me again. “Wait.” I stopped, let the door drift closed. “I get off work in ten minutes. We can sit right here in a booth and talk a bit if a story is really all you want.”